Please do all you can to support and encourage everyone you know to come if they can.
As most of you will know , Leeds Teaching Hospitals have put together a proposal to move 2,300 staff out of the NHS into a subsidiary company, largely to capitalise on VAT savings but also to open up more “ business” opportunities.
Staff are deeply upset about being “kicked out” of the NHS and who knows who might be next ! Similar plans are being pursued by cash strapped, hospitals up and down the country although few are anywhere near as large as Leeds. This is the thin edge of the wedge in terms of breaking up the NHS and fast tracking privatisation.
Unison are balloting porters, domestic, facilities, estates and clinical engineering staff for industrial action and have called this “100% NHS” demonstration to show their members that there is public support for their campaign, attract media coverage and keep the issue in the public eye.
This is a critical time to demonstrate massive opposition, as Leeds Teaching Hospital Board has not yet agreed a final plan. In Harrogate outrage was high but opposition too late. Now we have a chance to stop the Leeds plan and give encouragement to NHS staff and campaigners up and down the country.
